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Three haters. Two lovers. And a collision course with tragedy. That October night, Donald and Mark had no idea their lives and love were about to be shattered by fag bashers, intent on pain, and armed with ridicule, fists, and an aluminum baseball bat. Bashed charts the course of a journey that encompasses suspense, horror, and--ultimately--romance.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

The tagline of this novel is "A love story", but how can be a love story if one of the lover is killed at the beginning? well, it all depend on what you consider love, and then don't forget that the most famous love stories in the world haven't an happily ever after (Erich Segal was only one of the last...). Ahah, now some of one are thinking, so this novel has not an happily ever after? wrong, and again, it all depend on what you consider happily ever after.

Donald and Mark are happy and in love. They are actually still in the apex of their story, a six months old couple, a love at first sight that led to a sudden life in common. They are talking of the future, they are building a future. There is quite a wide age difference between Donald and Mark, something that Donald briefly considered, at 50 years old he didn't like to play the role of the daddy, but Mark won his every resistance. They would have been probably a very happy couple, but it's not fate to see it. Mark is killing during a gay bashing and Donald is left with his memories. And strange to say, I believe that the fact that they were a quite "new" couple allows Donald to survive; he is in pain, he misses Mark, but he is not thinking to kill himself, something that probably he would have thought if the one to die was his long-term partner. Instead Donald has still a life other than the one he shared with Mark, their relationship was still fresh enough to allow Donald to move on after a right mourning period. And maybe it helps that Mark didn't really leave him, he is still a steady presence in Donald's life, not exactly a ghost, but more the projection of Donald's love for him, an output of Donald's mind who speaks through Mark's image to tell Donald what he has to do.Read more ›

I learned about Rick R. Reed on FaceBook. We were members of a writers' group, and we shared some friends. We still are and do. One day, FaceBook suggested I send him a friend request, and I did. He accepted. We are FaceBook friends. Do understand that I doubt I'd recognize him walking down the street, which is likely to never happen given there's a continent between us. .

As a point of reference, Reed is often referred to as the gay Stephen King. I would rephrase that. King is the straight Reed. It works better for me that way.

Bashed was published by MLR Press in 2009, and it is available on Amazon for $13.49, as of this writing. I bought the Kindle edition for $4.79, and I have no regrets. However, I did not start reading one minute later as the ads suggest; I waited until I reached the lake. If you buy it in paper, there will be 212 pages, and you'll wait a few days to get it. I prefer electronic books because they weigh less, and it doesn't hurt that they're cheaper. The instant gratification doesn't hurt either.

Bashed is a very fast read, if you let it be. Had my schedule permitted, I would have finished it in a day. Instead, I finished it in two afternoons. This is not to suggest that Bashed is a trivial read. Oh, no, no. It's a compelling read. I found myself flipping the upper right corner of the Kindle to turn the page, which does not work. There is a button for that. In part, that's good testimony for the machine, but far more, it's tribute to Reed's ability to spin a web that transported me from a dreary reality through two afternoons. The man tells a good story.

Most gay people face hate-based violence at some point and in some manner. My last instance was the summer of 2008. There will be another all too soon.Read more ›

I can always count on a Rick R. Reed novel to elicit some strong emotion from the me, whether it be empathy, fear, laughter or even (yes)... sexual arousal. I have to also say that Rick certainly does have a way with him when it comes to writing sweet, poignant stories about broken, wounded men. I always found myself wanting to hug and soothe the main character while I whip him up a pot of of my homemade bean and bacon soup.

So, this is the story of Donald, a 50ish man that loses his younger lover in a gay-bashing incident one night after they'd just left a Chicago gay bar. Unfortunately, the police don't quickly catch the thugs that perpetrate the crime and Donald has a hard road before him as he begins to heal mentally and physically.

"Bashed" is one of Rick R. Reed's most compelling stories to date. A tale of love and murder, and the damaged lives left in its wake, this is a page turner like few I've read in recent months. Donald Griffith has so much to look forward to until one irreversible moment in time when his world is shattered and his life is sent reeling into limbo. His climb back up from the depths of his despair is frought with the nightmare of rebuilding his existence and finding the ability to not only move past that terrible night but to also let himself love again. Told in the manner that only Mr. Reed can command, "Bashed" is one of the best efforts of his literary career.

Bashed is a sad story, especially since The subject matter is a real one. I can't give the author a lot of credit for creativity since the story could actually be a true story or very similar to what has actually occurred to someone. Bashed is an entertaining book yet there was nothing extraordinary about the writing, the character development or anything else.

More About the Author

Rick R. Reed is all about exploring the romantic entanglements of gay men in contemporary, realistic settings. While his stories often contain elements of suspense, mystery and the paranormal, his focus ultimately returns to the power of love. He is the author of dozens of published novels, novellas, and short stories. He is a three-time EPIC eBook Award winner (for Caregiver, Orientation and The Blue Moon Cafe). Lambda Literary Review has called him, "a writer that doesn't disappoint." Rick lives in Seattle with his husband and a very spoiled Boston terrier. He is forever "at work on another novel."

Visit Rick's website at http://www.rickrreed.com or follow his blog at http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/. You can also like Rick on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rickrreedbooks or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/rickrreed. Rick always enjoys hearing from readers and answers all e-mails personally. Send him a message at jimmyfels@gmail.com